Hoffman's Two-Toed Sloth

scientific name

Choloepus hoffmani

size

Weight: 8-20 lbs
Length: 24-25 in

characteristics

Body: poor hearing " good eyesight " excellent sense of smell & touch " flexible neck, can turn and see in any direction " dark brown to pale yellow " forefeet have two digits " hind feet have three digits " have 6-8 neck vertebrae " no tail or vestigial tail " fur grows from belly to back, allows water to run off when rains " no front teeth " pulls food off with lips

Behavior: arboreal " nocturnal " sleeps 15 hr. per day " males solitary " females will group " good swimmer " cannot walk because of weak legs and long claws " on the ground it pulls itself along with front claws " come to ground once a week to urinate and defecate

reproduction/life span

Offspring: one offspring " 11.5 mo gestation " born with claws " young climbs to mothers belly and clings " will leave mother to feed at 5 mo but associate with mother for 2 yr " maturity 3.5 yr for female, 4-5 yr for male

diet

Wild: leaves, shoots, fruit " diet provides water needs
Zoo: leaf eater chow, fruits, vegetables

habitat/range

Habitat: tropical forests
Range: Nicaragua to Peru & central Brazil

status

IUCN threatened

other

hair has grooves to encourage algal growth • may gain nourishment from absorption of algae or by licking the algae • algae gives a green shimmer to help as camouflage • main predator jungle cats

oregon zoo exhibit

Amazon

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